Automatically opening and closing lifting hook



Nov. 13, 1951 R, LQQEY 2,574,835 I AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING LIFTING HOOK Filed May 24, 1949 2 SHEETS--SHEET l INVENTOR. Fae-05am ,2 A ONE) ATTOP/YE) Nov, 13, 1951' F. R. LONEY 2,574,835

AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING LIFTING HOOK Filed May 24, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IN V EN TOR.

52505001091 OIYE) ATTOEWE) Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTQMATICALIJY'OPENING AND CLOSING "LIFTING HOOK Frederick R. Loney, Denver, Colo.

Application .May 24, 1949, SerialjNo. 94,964

which, when elevated, will automaticallyclose to securely grip the object.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved tongs;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof in the open position;

Fig. 3 is a similar View in the closed position; and

Fig. 4-. is a detail, fragmentary view of the hinge portion of a jaw used in the improved tongs.

The improved tongs employs two arcuate, hook-shaped oppositely facing gripping jaws l and II hingedly mounted together upon a suitable hinge pin I2. The lower extremities of the jaws I0 and II are formed with gripping edges I9 for gripping any article to be lifted. The hinged extremity of the jaw I0 is bifurcated to form two similar, parallel hinge pads l3. The hinged extremity of the jaw II is narrowed to form a relatively flat tongue portion l4 which is rotatably positioned between the two pads I3 of the jaw I0.

The pads I3 are both provided with a straight, elongated pin opening I5, the axis of which extends radially from the axis of the hinge pin I2. The tongue I4 of the jaw II is provided with a crooked or bent slot H), the upper portion of which aligns with the upper portion of the first slot I5 when the jaws I0 and II are in the closed position of Fig. 2, and the lower portion of which is offset to one side so as to align with the lower portion of the first slot I5 when the jaws are in the open position of Fig. 3.

This places the upper portion of the slot I6 on a radial line AA in Fig. 4 extending from are supported. against a supporting surface, such as indicated 2 the axis of the pin I2, and places the center of the lower portion of the slot on a second radial line B--B, Fig. 4, approximately 30 to one side of the line AA.

A clevis bolt I'I extends through both slots I5 and I6 and is mounted in an inverted, U-shaped hanging clevis I8 by meansof which the tongs When the jaws are lowered at 2| in Fig.2, the clevis pin I! will move downwardlytoward the hinge member 3 I 2. In moving downwardly, it will -be forced to travel toward the line B of Fig. 4, and in so doing will swing the two jaws l0 and l I away from each other, as indicated in Fig. 3.

When the clevis I8 is lifted, the clevis pin I! will travel toward the upper extremities of both slots l5 and I6, swinging the lower extremities of the jaws inwardly to grip the article to be lifted, as shown in Fig. 2.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A lifting tong comprising: a first arcuately curved, hook-like gripping jaw; a second similar gripping jaw; a hinge pin hinging the two jaws together in opposed relation adjacent their upper ends, both jaws having portions extending upwardly beyond said hinge pin in overlapping relation; a vertically disposed relatively straight slot formed in the overlapping portion of one jaw above the hinge pin and disposed radially thereof; a relatively crooked slot formed vertically in the overlapping portion of the second jaw, said slots being arranged so that when said jaws are in the closed position, the upper portion of both slots will be in registry, and when in the open position, the lower portions of both slots will be in registry and extending diagonally of each other; and a lifting member extending through both slots and arranged to travel throughout the lengths of the slots.

2. A lifting tong comprising: a first arcuately curved, hook-like gripping jaw; a second similar gripping jaw; a hinge pin passing through and hinging the two jaws together in opposed relation adjacent their upper ends, both jaws extending beyond said hinge member in overlapping relation, the extending-beyond portion of the first jaw being bifurcated to form two parallel, spacedapart. fiat pads, the extending-beyond portion of the second jaw being flattened to form a relatively fiat tongue which is positioned between the pads of the first jaw; a relatively straight, elongated, slotted opening formed in each pad above the hinge pin with its axis lying on a line extending radially from said hinge pin; an angular, slotted opening formed in said tongue above the hinge pin and having upper and lower portions disposed diagonally of each other, and a lifting member including a pin passing through all of said slots, the said end portions of the angular slotted opening being arranged so that the upper portion thereof will register with the slotted openings in the pads and extend radially of the hinge pin when the jaws are in the closed position, and the lower portion of the angular slot being in registry with the lower ends of the slotted openings in said pads and extend diagonally thereof and radially of the pin of the lifting member when the jaws are in the open position.

3. A lifting tong comprising: a first arcuately curved, hook-like gripping jaw; a second similar gripping jaw; a hinge pin hinging the two jaws together in opposed relation adjacent their upper portion, both jaws having portions extending upwardly beyond said hinge pin in overlapping relation, the upwardly extending portion of the first jaw being bifurcated to form two parallel, spaced-apart, flat pads, the upwardly extending portion of the second jaw being flattened to form a relatively fiat tongue which is positioned between the pads of the first jaw; a relatively straight, elongated, slotted opening formed in each pad with its axis lying on a radial line from said hinge pin; an angular, slotted opening formed in said tongue and having upper and lower portions disposed diagonally of each other, the end portions of said angular opening being arranged so that the upper portions thereof will register with the slotted openings in the pads and extend radially of the hinge pin when the jaws are in the closed position, the lower portion of the angular slot being in registry with the lower end of the slotted openings in said pads and disposed diagonally thereof when the jaws are in the open position; a clevis pin passing through all of said slotted openings and lying parallel to said hinge member in upwardly spaced relation thereto; and an inverted U-shaped clevis straddling the upwardly extending portions of the jaws and engaging the extremities of said clevis pin, the free lower extremities of said jaws having relatively sharp, article-engaging ends formed with beveled lower edge faces.

FREDERICK R. LONEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,832,647 Mihaliak Nov. 1'7, 1931 2,378,570 Mitchell June 19, 1945 

